Apparatus for packaging fruit juices



Dec. 30, 1941. KRQNQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet1 A Dec. 30, 1941. A. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FVRUIT JUICES I Filed July 18, 1939 ,11 Sheets-Sheet 2 lye/0 L I 1 A. L. KRONQUEST 2,268,239

I APPARATUS FOR PAQKAGING FRUIT JUICES l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18,1959 MWNI Q w Dec. 30, 1941." AL. KRONQUEST APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGFRUIT JUICES 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1939 Dec. 30, 1941.KRQNQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet5 10 pf E HTr OAPA/EWS Dec. 30, 1941. A. L. KRONQUEST APPARATUS FORPACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 30,1941. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet7 Dec. 30, 1941. A. KRONQUEST 2,268,239

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18; 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet9 Ill/ll Rll.

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Dec. 30, 1 941.

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES A. L. KRONQUEST Filed July 18, 193911 Sheets-Sheet 1O imam r05 Dec. 30, 1941. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet11 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT J UICES AlfredL. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company,Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 18,1939, Serial No. 285,137

20 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the packaging of fruit juices, andmore particularly to the packaging of such juices under sterileconditions so that the flavor or vitamin content of the juices will notbe modified.

The juices of various fruits are recognized as food stuffs containingsubstances beneficial to health. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, etc. containamong other substances the anti-scorbutic vitamin known as vitamin C. Itis, however, necessary that neither the flavor nor the vitamin contentbe injured in the processes of preparation and delivery. Very shortexposure of such juices to the action of bacteria and/or oxidizing gasescauses marked deterioration which is not abated by later steriization orexclusion of such gases.

Further, it is found that chemical preservatives.

and heat operate deleteriously upon the juices while the use ofrefrigeration restricts distribution of the juices to points nearstorage refrigerators.

The whole fruit with unbroken capsule or skin preserves the vitamincontent substantially unchanged. Various agencies are markedlydestructive of the quality of such juices, comprising (1) oxidation byatmospheric oxygen; (2) the action of enzymes normally present in thefruit but remaining inactive so long as the skin is unbroken; and (3)the life process of yeasts, molds and bacteria. Since the pulp andjuices of citrus and other fruits are bacteriologically sterile as longas the fruit skin is unbroken, it is essential on the one hand tomaintain this sterility by preventing contamination, and on the otherhand to sterilize the fruit skin itself and to maintain a sterile andoxygen-free atmosphere during the disintegration of the fruit for thepurpose of juicing. The juice obtained during disintegration is thentransferred aseptically into a sterile container and this container ishermeticaly sealed to prevent contamination. The method of obtaining thejuices in their natural, non-modified condition is covered in U. S.Letters Patent 2.047935, issued to George D. Beal and Ronald B. McKinnison July 21, 1936, and the present invention seeks to provide a novelmethod of and apparatus for packaging said juices under sterileconditions for the purposes above stated.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel fruit juice packagingapparatus including means for sterilizing the containers and coverstherefor and passing them directly and without outside air contact intoa sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere, means for filling the juice into thecontainers in the sterile atmosphere, and means for applying and sealingthe covers in said atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the sterilizing of the containers preferablyis carried out in a hot acid bath, and in which the sealed containersare passed through a washing bath so as to remove acid from theexteriors of the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus of thecharacter stated, including a housing providing a first or sterilizingchamber having a sterilizing bath therein and a second or filling, andsealing chamber having a sterile, non-oxidizing atmosphere therein,means for supporting containers in said second chamber, means forguiding containers through the sterilizing bath and depositing them onsaid supporting means, means for filling said containers on saidsupporting means, means for feeding covers through the sterilizing bathand assembling them on the filled containers, means for sealing thecontainers in said second chamber, and liquid seal means for protectingthe chambers from atmospheric communication.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the sealed containers are discharged from theapparatus through a washing bath and in which the washing bath forms aliquid seal for excluding air at the discharge end of the apparatus andthe sterilizing bath forms a liquid seal at the entrance end of theapparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the container and cover positioning andassembing means, the filling means, and the closing or sealing means allare operable from without so that atmospheric communication with thechambers of the apparatus is avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the container and cover directing equipmentsinclude receiving portions shaped to receive the containers and coversin one position only, namely the position in which they will be properlyrelated for proper assembly within the filling and closing chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the container and cover directing guides havea long, and preferably tortuous passage through the sterilizing bath soas to assure proper sterilization of the containers and covers.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for assuringthe filling of properly measured, uncontaminated Juice charges into eachcontainer before the cover is applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the container supporting means comprises aturntable which is manually indexed from stationto-station from acontainer receiving station to a container filling and cover receivingstation, to a. closing station, and to a discharging station, and toprovide novel means for initiating operation of the closing devices andfor accurately registering the turret pocket presented container withsaid devices.

Another object or the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated including power actuated cover seaming means, manuallyactuated means for chucking the container to be closed, and meansactuated by the chucking operation for initiating operation of theseaming means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated including manually controlled means, power operatedthrough single cycles for chucking filled and loosely assembledcontainers and for feeding covers and containers into the filling andclosing chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter stated in which the seaming mechanism control devices actuatedby the chucking of the containers will not be operated in any instancein which the chucked container is devoid of a cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventingentrapment of air in the containers as they are lceing fed. through thesterilizing bath, and means for assuring drainage of all sterilizingliquid from the containers prior to introduction of the juicesthereinto.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by followingthe detailed description, the appended claims. and the several viewsillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention.

Figures 2 and 2a. together comprise an enlarged side elevation of theapparatus, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary plan view illustrating thereceivingways for the covers and the containers.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the filling and closing housinglooking in the direction in which the containers are fed thcreinto.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary face View illustrating the knock-outpad carrying rod in its elevated position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrating the seamingmechanism clutch control actuating crankarm.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary right and elevation illustratingthe chucking pad actuating mechanism.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the filling andclosing housing.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating thecontainer closing or seaming mechanism, the inactive condition of themechanism being shown.

aeeaceo Figure 10 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the lineIll-4 on Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line I i--H onFigure 2. Figure 12 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the lineIi -=12 on Figure 2.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line l3i3 on Figure 2. I Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken onthe line i4ll on Figure 2a.

Figure 15 is a detail right end elevation and partial vertical sectionillustrating the container righting means.

Figure 16 is a detail vertical section of the cover a 15 supportingtrackway structure taken on the line 16-16 on Figure 2.

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a manner ofdelivering the product by gravity action.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the manner ofdelivering the product by pressure action.

The apparatus herein disclosed as an example of embodiment of theinvention includes a support framing generally designated 5, asterilizing hath housing or tank 6 having a sterilizing bath "i thereinwhich is retained at an elevated or sterilizing. temperature ofapproximately 180 by a suitable heater element such as a steam pipe go 8or the like. The tank 5 preferably is provided with a suitable drain offequipment 9. The fram ing also serves to support a filling and closinghousing generally designated iii and which is connected with the housingor tank 5 by a com as duit generally designated ii, and in the conduitand the chamber 12 formed within the housing it there is retained asterile, non=oxidizing atmosphere. An inert gas such as carbon dioxide.hydrogen, or nitrogen, will serve to provide the iii sterile atmosphere,and this atmosphere is retained in the conduit and. chamber by novelliquid seal equipments later to be described.

While the present invention is particularly di rected to the packagingor orange or citrous fruit @ggjuices, it is to be understood that theprinciples oi the invention may he applied as well in the packaging ofjuices from tomatoes, apples, pineapples, anrl the like. It is preferredthat an acid I'oath be utilized in sterilizing the container partswithin the housing or tank 8, and citric acid has been found suitablebecause it will have no in jurious effect upon the juices beingpackaged.

The conduit ll preferably is composed of two casing units 13flange-assembled as at it to form the conduit structure and present restflange or cover portions l-El which engage and close an end portion ofthe tank in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and of the drawings. Theconduit is flange-secured as at IE to the filling and clos- 5 inghousing 10.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings that theflange I! defining the opening into the conduit casting portionsdepending in the tank 6 is immersed below the level of the sterilizingbath so as to form a liquid seal, thereby to entrap and retain thesterile atmosphere within the conduit H. At the discharge end of themachine, there is provided a filled and closed retainer receiving trough18 having a washing bath IQ of Water therein into which the containersare discharged through a delivery tube 20, the lower end of which isimmersed in the bath so as to form a liquid seal 7;; likewise serving toentra'p and retain the sterile atmosphere within the housing In and theconduit II.

It will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings thatthe conduit forming casting equipment is provided with a cover receivingopening 2| defined by vertical edge guides 22 for receiving the oppositeedge portions of covers introduced into the apparatus. A cover plate 23closes the space intervening the cover edge receiving grooves and isopposed by a recess 24, and the cover plate 23 and recess 24 permitintroduction of container covers in one position only, thereby to avoidimproper assembly of covers and containers in the apparatus. The coversare indicated .at 25 and include the usual centrally depressed portions26. These covers can be introduced only with the depressed portions 26presented toward the clearance or recess 24. It will be obvious thatattempts to otherwise introduce the covers would be prevented by contactof the cover portions 26 with the closure plate 23.

The conduit forming casting equipment also includes a containerreceiving opening 21 having container bottom guideways 28 and flangedtop guides 29. The containers to be filled and closed in the apparatusherein disclosed are of the conventional fiat top can type and in theirempty state include the usual cylindriform body portions 30 and the opentops terminating in outwardly directed flanges. It will be observed byreference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the flanged tops 3| are toolarge to be received between the bottom guideways 28 and consequently itis impossible to improperly introduce the containers into the apparatus.

The cover guides 22 deliver vertically into an upper raceway 32 formedin a rail 33 secured as at 34 to the casting equipment. The upperraceway 32 is opposed by a raceway formed in a rail 35 secured as at 36to the casting, and the lower raceway 31 in the rail 33 is opposed by araceway 38 in a rail 39 secured as at 40 to said casting. The raceways32 and 31 of the rail 33 merge as at 4| at the end of the rail in acontinuation raceway disposed concentrically about the axis 42, and thiscontinuation raceway is opposed by akeeper raceway 43 formed in an endportion 44 of a casting member 45,

flange-supported as at 46 upon the tank in the manner best illustratedin Figures 1 and 12 of the drawings. The casting member 45 also serves:3 a support for the end of the rails 33, 35 and Upper and lower chainrails 41 are provided and are secured as at 48 to the castingequipments. These rails support and guide the upper and lower flights ofa conveyor chain 49 having cover pushing pins projecting therefrom inthe manner illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings and which serve topush the containers along the supporting and guiding raceways. The chain49 passes over an end idler sprocket 5|, has its upper flight passedunder an intermediate idler sprocket 52, its lower flights under anintermediate idler sprocket 53, and the loop thereof extending beyondsaid intermediate idler sprockets passed over a driver sprocket 54. Theidler sprockets 52 and 53 are mounted on studs 55 secured to the conduitcasting equipment and are spaced laterally from similarly mountedequipment, and this shaft also supports 2. laterally spaced idlersprocket 60 aligned with the idler sprockets 56 and 51 previouslyreferred to. The driver sprocket 54 is mounted upon a cross' shaft 6|which is supported in bearings 62 formed in the casting equipments andwhich is idler sprockets 56 and'51, the purpose of which driven througha sprocket 63 disposed outside the housing H). The shaft 6| carriesanother,

laterally spaced, drive sprocket 64 and a con-- tainer conveying chain65 passes about this driver sprocket, under the intermediate idlersprockets 56 and 51 and about the idler sprocket 60.- See Figures 11 to14. The chain 65 is equipped with suitable container engaging andconveying lugs 66 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 12 of the drawings.The upper flight of the chain 65 is supported on a rail 61 suitablysupported on the casting equipment.

The container conveying chain 65 serves to push the containers in onedirection along upper supporting rails 68 and lower supporting rails 69suitably supported upon the casting equipments and which merge with endguides 10 formed in the casting extensions 1|, and in the oppositedirection over lower supporting rails 12 onto which the end guides 10deliver.

The lower set of opposed cover raceways 31 and 38 deliver into upwardlyinclined raceways 13 and 14 and the container supporting rails 69deliver the containers onto similarly inclined supporting railstructures. At the upper ends of the inclined guideways the containersare diverted by a guide wall 15 onto downwardly in clined supportingways 16, and the upwardly traveling covers are diverted by a guideportion 11 into downwardly inclined ways 18 to a casting 19 including alateral enlargement within which the covers are altered in position fromvertical to horizontal by curved track guides 8|. As the covers leavethe trackguides 8| they are deposited onto a longitudinal supporting andcentering shelf 82.

When a container cover is deposited on the shelf 82 it is disposedhorizontally but, as will later appear, is not registered over thecontainer onto which it is to be affixed. At the proper time each coveris shifted into position for registering with and falling upon itsassociated container by a shifter pin 83 projecting upwardly from acrankarm 84 oscillatably mounted in a vertical bearing 85 supported in thehousing I8 and operated manually by a crank handle 86 disposed Withoutsaid housing.

The filling and closing housing includes sides 81, a top 88, and abottom 89. The front side, as viewed in Figure l, is closed by aremovable glass panel 98, and the side toward the tank or housing. 6 hasan opening or window 9| therein through which the container and coverguideways extend into the chamber I2 of the housing It). The rear wallis provided with a removable door 92 through which access may be hadinto the housing chamber. The housing |0 also includes an internal framestructure 93 which serves as a support for various portions ofmechanisms' later to be described.

A stationary platform 94 is provided within the housing chamber l2, andthis platform is apertu ed as at 95 at the container closing station.and at 98 at the container discharging station. A rotary turret 91having a plurality (four being shown)- of peripheral pockets 98 formedtherein is rotatable over the platform 94 and is surrounded by a guardrail 99 which serves to retain containers in the turret pockets as theturret is indexed station by station from the container receivingstation to the container filling station, to the container closingstation, and to the container discharging station. The indexing'of theturret is effected manually through the medium of a shaft I00, whichextends vertically from the turret through a bearing IOI providedtherefor on the housing top, and a hand wheel I02 secured upon the upperend of the shaft. A registering disk I03 is secured upon the upper endof the shaft I and has a peripheral notch or recess formed therein tocorrespond with each of the pockets 98 so that when each recess isyieldably engaged by the spring detent equipment I 04 stationarilysupported upon the top of the housing, the operator will know that thepockets are positioned at the respective stations.

The downwardly inclined portions of the container supporting railswithin the housing chamber I2 deliver containers against an abutmentwall I05 in the manner illustrated in Figures 2a and of the drawings,and the rail which supports the bottom portion of the containers is,

discontinued at this point so that the containers can fall by gravity,bottom first, over the upending guide portion I06 in the mannerillustrated in Figure 15. As each container is righted or turned bottomdown, it falls between receiving guides I07 into'the turret pocketpresented at that particular time at the receiving station. See Figures2a and 8.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 12 of the drawings that thecontainer supporting rail which supports the open nd of the containerduring its initial movement through the sterilizing bath is disposed ata higher level than its companion rail in the manner illustrated at H.

It will also be observed by reference to Figure 4 of the drawings thatthe container guiding rail portion which supports the bottoms of thecontainers is disposed. at a slightly higher elevation than thecompanion rail as indicated at H. By thus disposing the open ends of thecontainers at an upward tilt while starting through the sterilizing bathand a downward tilt after leaving the bath, provision is made forassuring against entrapment of contaminating air in the containers whilepassing through the bath and also for assuring that all sterilizingliquid will be drained out of the containers before they are presentedfor filling.

In order to assure proper registry of the turntable at the respectivestations, the turntable is provided with a plurality of registeringrecesses I08, one thereof being associated with each turret pocket.These recesses are successively presented for receiving a verticallyreciprocable registering pin I09 slidable in a bearing I00 supported onthe housing bottom and connected at its lower end to one end of a rockerbeam IiI which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at H2 andhas its other end connected to a depending actuator rod I I3 which isreciprocated for the purpose of projecting the pin 109 into orwithdrawing it from the registering recesses in a manner later to bedescribed. The registering engagement of the pin I09 with one of therecesses I08 is effected prior to each container closing function andserves to assure proper centering or registering of the containers withthe closing mechanisms later to be de scribed.

A filler tube or nozzle II4 extends downwardly into the gas filled,sterile chamber I 2 in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of thedrawings, and it will be observed that this nozzle terminates just abovethe containers at the filling station. It will be noted also that thecasing and the" cover supporting and centering shelf are disposed atthis station and include an opening through which the product can flowfrom the nozzle into the container positioned at said station. SeeFigure 8. The filler tube IIl passes upwardly out of the housing I0through a suitable gland to a measuring cup II5 preferably equipped witha transparent casing portion having a level marker IIS thereon. Controlvalves II1 are provided above and below the measuring cup and serve tocontrol the introduction of measured quantities of juice into themeasuring cup and the delivery of said measured quantities to theindividual containers.

The sterile juice to be filled into the containers can be supplied inany suitable manner and I have illustrated two examples of acceptableequipment adaptable for the purpose in Figures 17 and 18 of thedrawings. In the apparatus of Figure 17, the sterile product flows by.gravity from a container H8 through a flow tube II9 to the measuringcup, a suitable venting tube equipment I20 being provided forcommunicating with the interior of the sterile chamber I2 and above theproduct in the container H8 and the measuring cup.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figure 18, the sterile productcontainer is connected by a pressure tube 32E with a pressure source 122of CO2 gas through suitable control equipment I23 and by a flow tube I24leading'rrom the container to the measuring cup, a suitable vent tubei2?) being provided for connecting the interior of the chamber I2 withtheupper portion of the proved form of container closing mechanism maybe employed within the sterile chamber I 2. It is preferred that asuitable form of double roll seaming equipment be employed for closingthe containers, and the equipment herein disclosed and generallydesignated I 26 is disclosed in detail in the Kronquest Patent2,023,598, of December 10, 1935, and in the Fowler Patent 2,141,976, ofDecember 2'7, 1938. Since these patents fully disclose the details ofconstruction and operationof these seaming mechanisms and the controlequipments therefor, these equipments will be referred to but brieflyherein.

In the apparatus herein disclosed, the container advancing turret ismanually indexed, but the feeding of the containers into the turretpockets and the closing of the filled containers is effected by manuallycontrolled, power operated mechanisms. The operation of these mechanismsis initiated by manually actuated devices, and the power operatedmechanisms cause them to function through single cycles in amanner laterto be described.

The seaming equipment includes first and second operation rolls J2! andI28, and I29 desighates the carrying and actuating arm equipments uponwhich said rolls are mounted. These arm equipments are pivotallysupported as at I30 and are moved under the control of rotary camequipments in the manner described in detail in the Kronquest patenthereinbefore referred to. The actuating rollers I3I carried by said armequipments are held against the actuating cam equip- The sleeve I36carries a clutch releasing pin I38 and a trigger arm I39. A mounting pinI40 depends from the arm I39 and pivotally supports a notched triggerI4I which is constantly urged by an anchored spring I 42 toward aholding abutment I43. It will also be observed, by reference to Figure 8of the drawings, that the arm I39 is constantly urged, by an anchoredspring I44,

toward the position illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.

The clutch releasing pin I38 overlies a clutch sector I 45 pivotallysupp rted on the rotor I46 which is secured to the seaming mechanismdrive shaft I41. As in the clutch equipment disclosed in detail in theFowler patent hereinbefore referred to, the sector I45 is spring urgedoutwardly and carries an abutment head I48 which is presented fordriving engagement by a driving pin I49 projecting from a crank I50carried by a sleeve Ii rotatably supported as at I52 on the housing I0and constantly driven by sprocket and chain connections I53 from themotor I54. The motor is supported on a shelf I55 projecting 'rearwardlyfrom a bracket I56 secured to and depending from the bottom of thehousing it.

The shaft I33 extends upwardly through the top of the housing andcarries a crank. member I51 which is secured thereon in position forengaging a movement limiting stop I583. The seaming head includes aknock-out pad I59 which is supported on a stem or rod I60 projectingupwardly through the housing top where it is equipped with a verticallyadjustable clutch control sleeve actuating head I6I.' The head I6Iincludes an abutment shoulder I62 and a conical face I63 which isengageable with a dog I64 pivotally supported as at I65 on a crank leverI66 having a crank arm I61 which engages the crank member I51, saidlever I06 being pivotally supported as at I68. The lever I66 is held inits normal position, illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, by ananchored spring I69,-and the dog I64 is held against a stop shoulder I10on the lever I66 by a compression spring I1I.

The rod I60 is yieldably depressed by a compression spring I12interposed between the head I6I and a bracket I13 supported on thehousing top and through which the upper end of the rod passes so that itcan be engaged by a lever I14 pivoted at I on the bracket and includingan actuating handle portion I16.

The motor also drives a sleeve I11 which is freely rotatable about ashaft I18 having bearing as at I19 in the bracket I56. The sleeve I11carries a driver pin I80 for cooperating with the spring projectedclutch sector I8I pivotally mounted on the rotor I82 which is keyed atI83 to the shaft I18, and said sleeve is constantly rotated through themedium of sprocket and chain connections I84. The shaft I18 also carriesa worm gear I85 which meshes with a worm wheell86 secured upon a shaftI81 which is rotatable in bearings I88 provided in the depending bracketstructure.

A clutch control pin I89 is reciprocable in a bearing I90 supported onthe bracket structure,

and this control pin is slot and pin connected as at I9I to one arm of abell crank lever I92 which is pivotally supported as at I93 on thebracket structure. An anchored spring I94 is connected to the pincarrying arm of the bell crank lever I92 and tends to hold the lever inthe pin projected, declutching position with the roller I95 which iscarried by the other arm of the bell crank lever against the peripheryof the stop disk I96 mounted on the shaft I81. The said other arm of thebell crank lever is connected at its free end to the actuator rod II3hereinbefore referred to and is also connected by a depending rod with atreadle structure I91 by depression of which the bell crank lever can beshifted about its pivot against the tension of.

the spring I94.

A cam disk I98 is secured upon the shaft I81 and is provided at itsperipheral edge with a gradual lift portion 199, a long dwell portion200, and an abrupt drop portion 20I engageable with a roller 202 securedto the lower end of a plunger member 203 vertically reciprocable inguides 204 provided therefor in the depending bracket structure. Theplunger 203 carries a container chucking pad 205 which normally restsflush with the upper surface of the stationary table 94 within theaccommodating recess 95 formed therein at'the container closing station.so that when the turntable is brought to rest at the closing station, itwill position a container to be closed on. said pad. The plungerequipment 203, 202 is held against the periphery of the cam disk I98 byan anchored spring 208.

The shaft I8? also carries a beveled gear 201 which meshes with a largerbeveled gear 208 secured upon a shaft 209 which is rotatable inOperation When the apparatus is being employed for sterilizingcontainers and covers, for filling the sterile juices into thecontainers, and for closing the containers in a sterile atmosphere, thecontainers and covers are individually introduced into the apparatusthrough the feed-in equipments illustrated in detail in Figures 1 and 3of the drawings and which serve to assure against improper assembly ofthe cover and container units at the point in the apparatus at whichassembly occurs. The containers fed through the openings first referredto enter the receiving guideways and are conveyed by the chainequipments hereinbefore described in detail first in one direction andthen in the opposite direction in the hot acid sterilizing bath 1. Asviewed in Figure 2 of the drawings, the con-. tainers and covers arefirst fed to the left over the upper trackways and then toward the rightover the lower trackways. By causing the containers to travel inopposite directions through the sterilizing bath a long sterilizinginterval is tered relation over the filled container.

provided for which is ample to assure the desired sterilization withoutconsumption of unnecessarily large apparatus space. As has beenpreviously stated while passing through the initial stages of thesterilizing travel the containers are held tilted as indicated in Figure13 so as to prevent entrapment of contaminating air in the lowerportions of said containers.

As the containers and covers reach the right hand end of theirrespective guideways, as viewed in Figure 2, the chains carry themupwardly over the upwardly inclined guideways. as illustrated in Figure2a of the drawings, and deliver them onto the downwardly inclinedguideways leading into the sterile atmosphere container filling andclosing housing where the covers pass into the casting enlargement 80wherein they are changed from the vertical to the horizontal positionand deposited on the receiving shelf 82, and wherein the containers areturned to the bottom up position by the equipments Hi5, M6 and areindividually deposited in the receiving pocket of the turntable betweenthe guides m1 at the receiving station. As has been previouslydescribed, the containers are tilted open end downwardly before theyreach the turntable so that any sterilizing liquid contained thereinwill be drained out before the containers are Lip-ended. See Figure 4.

Assuming that an empty container has been positioned at the fillingstation, centrally beneath the filling nozzle H t and the coversupporting shelf 32 at the filling station by proper manual indexing ofthe turntable, the operator manipulates the control valve equipments II1to allow a measured charge of juice to flow down out of the measuringcup H5 and into the container at the filling station. After thismeasured filling of the container has been completed, the operatormanipulates the handle 86 to cause the pin 83 to engage the coverresting upon the shelf 82 and slide it over into, cen- As soon as thecover reaches the end of the centering guide it will drop from the shelfonto the filled container. The operator now manipulates the handwheel'I62 to index the turntable and position the filled and looselyassembled container and cover at the closing station and on the chuckingpad 295.

By now stepping upon and depressing the treadle I91 the operator impartsa rocking motion to the bell crank lever I92 to simultaneously elevatethe registering pin I09 and project it into the aligned receiving recessI08 in the turntable, for assuring proper registry of the turntablepocket and the container therein with the seaming mechanisms, andwithdraw the clutch controlling pin I89. Withdrawal of the pin i89allows the clutch sector iSI to move out into the orbital path of thedriving pin I80 so that the moving pin I89 will impart rotation to therotor I82 and the shaft I18 to which it is fixed. The shaft "8 impartsrotation, through the gearing connections I85, I86, to the shaft 881,and rotation of the previously stationary cam I98 serves to lift theplunger 203 and chucking pad 205 to press' the filled and coveredcontainer against the chuck of the seaming mechanism generallydesignated I26.

Rotation of the shaft I81 also imparts rotation, through the powertransmitting connection 201,

208, 209, 2 and 2I2, to the cover and container conveying equipments sothat during the single cycle of power application initiated by depresswnof the treadle, one cover and one container will be fed onto thereceiving guideways in the sterile atmosphere containing chamber I2 ofthe housing II! in the manner previously described. It should beunderstood that the operators foot is removed after eachdepression ofthe treadle and the pin I89 is returned to its normal position forretracting the sector I8I out of the path of movement of the driving pinI80 and discontinuing rotation, of the sleeve I82 after a single cycleof rotation has been completed. The driving connections are soproportioned that only one container and one cover is fed into thehousing IIl during each cycle of operation of the container chuckingmechanism. 1

As each filled and loosely assembled container is chucked in the mannerabove described, the cover thereof engages the knock-out pad I59 andmoves the rod 669 upwardly through the bracket I13. This upward movementof the rod I60 causes the abutment face I62 of the head I6I to engagethe dog Hi4 and rock the crank lever I66 about its pivot E68 to therebycause the arm I61 to move the crank member I61 and impart a rockingmovement to the shaft I33. The rocking of the shaft I33 removes theclutch pin I38 and permits the clutch sector I45 to move out into thepath of travel of the driving pin I49 thereby causing the sleeve I5I toimpart rotation to the driving shaft I41 of the seaming mechanism. Asthe trigger arm I39 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 10 of thedrawings the trigger i4! will engage the abutment I43 and hold theclutch pin 138 out of the path of movement of the sector I45. Theseaming mechanism will function as described in detail in the Kronquestand Fowler patents hereinbefore referred to until the double seamingfunction has been completed, at which time the adjacent actuator rollerI3I will engage and release the trigger MI so as to permit the clutchpin i353 to move to the position illustrated in Figure 9 and effect adeclutching of the continuously rotating driving sleeve I5I and therebydiscontinue rotation of the seam mechanism drive shaft I41.

The knock-out pad I59 which is engaged by the cover of each container asit, is being chucked is smaller than the internal diameter of thecontainers, and it will be obvious that should a container be movedtoward the chuck of the seaming mechanism without a cover thereon, therod I69 would not be moved upwardly, and initiation of seaming mechanismoperation would not be effected.

By now depressing the handle I16 the operator can depress the knock-outpad I59 and return the head I6I to its normal, lowered position. Thelowering of the head permits the crank members I61and I51 to return totheir normal positions and during the lowering of the head the coniformsurface I63 thereof will freely deflect the spring pressed dog I64 andpermit it to return to the normal position illustrated in Figure 4 ofthe drawings.

The now filled and closed contained can now be manually indexed to thedischarging station where it will fall through the table aperture 96 andthe discharge tube 29 into the bath I9 in which acid remaining on theexterior of the container will be removed.

By repeating theoperations hereinbefore described, containers and coverswill be successively fed into the sterile atmosphere containing chamberII), the containers filled, the covers applied to the containers, andthe loosely assembled containers double seam closed and then dischargedin the manner described.

In this disclosure a particular patented method of obtaining juices in anatural, non-modified condition has been referred to, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the use of juicesobtained by this method alone. While it is preferred that the juices tobe packaged in accordance with the invention herein disclosed beobtained by the patented method herein referred to, other methods may beutilized for producing sterile juices for packaging, such for example asflash pasteurizing where the fruit juice is subjected to heat only for avery short interval, so that neither the color nor the flavor thereof isinjured, and then immediately cooled and aseptically sealed in sterilecontainers, until it is transferred to commercial containers formarketing.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a sterilizing tank having asterilizing bath therein, a filling and closing housing, spaced tracksfor guiding open-topped containers in a generally horizontal positionthrough the tank and into the housing for deposition therein, saidtracks including portions relatively positioned to hold the containerswith their open tops tilted higher than their closed bottoms in aportion of the bath and reversely positioned with relation one to theother in approach to the housing to hold the containers with their opentops tilted downwardly whereby to avoid entrapment of air in thecontainer bottoms in the bath and to assure draining out of sterilizingliquid before the containers are deposited in said housing.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a sterilizing tank having asterilizing bath therein, container and cover supporting trackage insaid tank'disposed in upper and lower flights immersed in the bath, andmeans for conveying the covers and containers over the trackage flightsin one direction over the upper flight and in the opposite directionover the lower flight.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a filling and closinghousing having a sterile nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, means forintroducing and positioning containers and covers therefor in sterilecondition in said housing with each cover disposed above and to one sideof its associated container. means for directing a juice in sterilecondition into each container, and means operable from without thehousing for shifting each cover into centered relation over and droppingit upon its associated filled container.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a filling and closinghousing having a sterile nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, means forintroducing and positioning containers and covers therefor in sterilecondition in said housing with each cover disposed above and to one sideof its associated container, means for directing a juice in sterilecondition into each container, means operable from without the housingfor shifting each cover into centered relation over and dropping it uponits associated filled container, and power operated means manuallycontrolled from without the housing for sealing the covers on the filledcontainers.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, manually controlled means actuatedthrough single complete cycles for actuating the sealing means forsealing individual containers, and means operable upon each actuation ofsaid manually controlled means for positioning the turret with acontainer perfectly registered at the closing station.

'6. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthecovers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers insaid sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station' from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, and manually controlled power actuated means operable throughsingle complete cycles for chucking individual containers.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through singlecomplete cycles for chucking individual'containers, and meansautomatically actuated during each container chucking operation forpositioning the turret with a container perfectly registered with saidchuck.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through singlecomplete cycles for chucking individual containers, and power operatedmeans automatically actuated by each chucking movement of a containerfor effecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle.

9. in apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamher and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin, said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directingcontainers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to saidsupporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means forapplying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing saidcontainers in'said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including aturret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station toa container filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through singlecomplete cycles for chucking individual containers, power operated meansautomatically actuated by each chucking movement of a container forefiecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle, andmeans automatically actuated during each container chucking operationfor positione ing the turret with a container perfectly registered withsaid chuck.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga. sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting'means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, and a vertically reciprocable knockout pad engaged by containersbeing chucked, manually controlled power actuated means operable throughsingle complete cycles for chucking individual containers, and poweroperated means til automatically controlled by knockout pad movementduring each chucking movement of a container for effecting operation ofthe seaming head through a single cycle.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a housing'structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, and manually controlled power actuated means operable throughsingle complete cycles for chucking individual containers and forfeeding one container and cover complement into the filling and closingchamber,

12. In apparatus'of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-by-station from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through singlecomplete cycles for chucking individual containers, and meansautomatically actuated during each container chucking operation forpositioning the turret with acontainer perfectly registered with saidchuck.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turretmovable station-bystation from a container receiving station to acontainer filling station, to a container sealing station and to acontainer discharging station, said sealing means comprising a coverseaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including achuck, and a vertically reciprocable knockout pad engaged by containersbeing chucked, manually controlled power actuated means operable throughsingle complete cycles for chucldng individual containers, and poweroperated means automatically controlled by knockout pad movement duringeach chucking movement of a covered container for efiecting operation ofthe seaming head through a single cycle, said knockout pad being of adiameter for entering an uncovered container whereby seaming headactuation will not be effected by chucking movement of an uncoveredcontainer.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, an acid liquidsterilizing bath in said sterilizing chamber, means for directingcontainers and covers therefor through said acid liquid sterilizing bathand to said supporting means, means for filling the supportedcontainers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers,means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, a liquidwashing bath through which the sealed containers are discharged, andmeans cooperating with said baths to form liquid seals preventingingress of outside air.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, and means for sealing saidcontainers in said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprisingan acid liquid bath, and said container and cover directing meansincluding individual guideways immersed in the liquid bath and merginginto individual guideways extending out of the bath and disposed todeliver onto the supporting means.

16. In apparatus of the character escribed, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually diabove containerspresented at the filling station and having cover centering anddischarging parts centered over a container at said filling station, andmanually operable means operable from without the housing structure forshifting covers serially to fall from the centering and dischargingparts onto a filled container centered therebeneath, for indexing saidturret, and for initiating operation of said sealing means.

17. In apparatus of the character described,

ways immersed in the bath and merging into in- I dividual guidewaysextending out of the bath and disposed to deliver onto supporting means,said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station froma container receiving station to a container filling station, to acontainer sealing station and to a container discharging station, and aguideway portion for the covers disposed horizontally above containerspresented at the filling station and having cover centering anddischarging parts centered over a container at said filling station; andmanually operable means operable from without the'housing structure forshifting covers serially to fall from the centering and dischargingparts onto a filled container centered therebeneathdor indexing saidturret, and for initiating operation of said sealing means.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through .the sterilizing means and to saidsupporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means forapplying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing saidcontainers in said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprisinga single acid bath, said container and cover directing means includingindividual guideways immersed in the bath and merging into individualguideways extending out of the bath and disposed to deliver ontosupporting means, said supporting means including a turret movablestation-by-station from a container receiving station to a containerfilling station, to a container sealing station and to a containerdischarging station, and .a guideway portion for the covers disposedhorizontally above containers presented at the filling station andhaving cover centering and discharging parts centered over a containerat said filling station; a washing bath through which the sealedcontainers are discharged, and means cooperating with said baths to formliquid seals preventing ingress of outside air.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structureproviding a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber havinga sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and coversupporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing meansin saidsterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containersand covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supportingmeans, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containersin said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprising a

